Career Statistics
Career
Games/Starts: 39/39
Colgate Debut: Feb. 11, 2022, vs. High Point University
First Career Start: Feb. 11, 2022, vs. High Point University
Stats Through End of 2025: 708 saves, 658 goals allowed, .518 save percentage, 11.70 goals-against average, 24-32 record, 125 ground balls, 28 caused turnovers
Awards:
2024 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year
2024 First Team All-Patriot League
2024 All-American Honorable Mention by USA Lacrosse, USILA, and Inside Lacrosse
2024 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week (March 4 & April 8)
2023 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week March 13
2022 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week Feb. 21 & April 18
2022 Patriot League Rookie of the Week March 21 & April 18
2025 (Senior)
Games/Starts: 18/18
- Ranked fourth in the Patriot League in saves per game (11.83)
- Started all 18 games and logged a career best 1,056:10 in the net
- Earned Patriot League Championships Tournament MVP Title against BostonU (5/4)
- Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week (3/3) after recording 16 saves, five goals against, and 18–6 win over at Loyola (3/1)
- Logged 15 games with 10-plus saves
- Saved a career best 213 shots to average a .508 save percentage
- Saved a season best 24 shots at Army in Patriot League Semi-Final win (5/2)
- Recorded 18 saves and a season low of three goals against in dominant win over Holy Cross (4/19)
- Registered 17 saves on the road against Virginia and season best three caused turnovers (2/8)
- Scooped up six ground balls apiece in win over Harvard (2/18) and Villanova (2/22)
- Fired off three shots, two against Harvard (2/18) and one at Virginia (2/8)
- Boasted a season best record in net of 10-8
2024 (Junior)
Games/Starts: 15/15
- 2024 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and First Team All-Patriot League selection
- Named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team and Patriot League Academic Honor Roll
- Finished third in the Patriot League and 10th nationally in saves per game (13.07) and also ranked second in the PL in saves (196)
- Logged four games with 15-plus saves
- Two-time PL Goalkeeper of the Week (March 4 and April 8)
- Stopped 13 shots in win at #4 Penn State (Feb. 2)
- Recorded 18 saves at #9 Syracuse (Feb. 5)
- Made a season-best 20 stops during win over Loyola (March 2)
- Allowed a season-low four goals and saved 14 shots during victory at Bucknell (March 16)
- Stopped 18 shots in win at #5 Army (April 6)
2023 (Sophomore)
Games/Starts: 13/13
- Ranked third in the Patriot League and 26th in the nation in saves per game at 11.64 after stopping 128 shots on the year
- Allowed just 128 goals which was fourth fewest in the nation and second fewest in the conference
- Was also fifth in the Patriot League in save percentage (.500) and goals against average (12.13)
- Started every game and played the entire 60 minutes in all but one contest, logging 633 minutes between the pipes
- Tallied 12 saves in season-opener at Air Force (Feb. 18)
- Made a career-high 21 stops, logging a .724 save percentage, and helping the Raiders defeat Navy (March 11)
- Effort against Midshipmen earned him Patriot League Goalie of the Week
- Stopped 13 shots in back to-back games at Lafayette (March 18) and against Bucknell (March 25)
- Logged a .583 save percentage after racking up 14 saves against No. 7 Army (April 8)
- Made eight stops and allowed just five goals in the Raiders’ win over Holy Cross (April 28)
2022 (First Year)
Games/Starts: 13/13
- Finished second in the Patriot League with a .538 save percentage, stopping 171 of 318 shots, and also lead the league and was 15th in Division I in saves per game with 13.15
- Ranked fourth in the Patriot League in goals against average at 11.21 after playing every minute of the season until the last 1:46 of the final game against Holy Cross
- Logged 13 ground balls and two caused turnovers and recorded 10 or more saves in 12 of 13 games
- Made a season-best 19 saves and allowed only eight goals for a .704 save percentage in come from behind victory over Air Force, after shutting out the Falcons in the all-important fourth quarter with seven saves
- Against Lafayette he kept the Leopards at bay never letting the score get closer than a two-goal deficit following a 5-0 Colgate lead to open the game
- Racked up 17 saves against the Leopards and allowed only seven goals for a career best .708 save percentage
- Also allowed only seven goals against No. 7 Harvard with a .681 save percentage and 15 saves
- Stopped 15 shots against Bucknell
- Surrendered only eight goals and had 15 saves in 9-8 overtime upset victory over No. 17 Lehigh
- Had a caused one turnover each in game against No. 14 Army and Navy
- Recorded two ground balls against No. 13 Boston University, Army, and No. 17 Lehigh
Before Colgate
A 2021 graduate of Fayetteville-Manlius High School ... lettered in lacrosse and golf, while also competing for the Orange Crush club program ... a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and the Spanish Club.
Stats: Recorded 118 saves and a .648 save percentage as a senior.
Honors: Named an Academic All-American and to First Team All-League SCAC in 2021 ... became the 2021 Section III Class B Champions.
Personal
Born: Matthew Donovan LaCombe in Evanston, Illinois.
Family: Son of Mike and Laura LaCombe ... has one brother, George.
LaCombe on why he chose Colgate: "I choose Colgate because of the great academics, network of alumni, and the opportunity to play Division I lacrosse."
